EY has appointed partner Gareth James to head-up its data & analytics practice within its UK and Ireland assurance business, as the Big Four firm targets further growth in audit and business assurance services.

Gareth joins the firm having spent 18 years at Deloitte, where he had been a UK risk analytics partner since 2011 specialising in and leading on audit and finance analytics.

“Access to new technology and powerful analytics is driving substantial innovation in audit and assurance services in the UK, which is recognised as leading the way in this field globally,” Gareth said.

“As organisations are evolving into data driven digital enterprises, it is critical for assurance providers to be ahead of the game.”

Hywel Ball, EY’s UK Head of Assurance, said: “New EU reforms have increased the number of audits that are coming up for tender and, since January, we’ve been proposed or selected as auditors to four of the country’s largest businesses, including Royal Dutch Shell.

“Gareth’s experience will enable us to build on these successes by further expanding and developing our data and analytics practice in the UK.

EY has recently won audit tenders for blue chip organisations including Associated British Foods (ABF), Royal Bank of Scotland, Sainsbury’s, The London Stock Exchange Group, the Co-operative Bank, Sage Group, Land Securities, the BBC, Dyson and the Audit Commission.